Page 78 of All the Devils are Here

“That being someone’s mate is nearly older than humanity itself. It is an instinct so deep and so sharp there is no turning away from it. I wish you could feel it.”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure how it relates?”

In the dark, his lips found mine. His kiss calmed the unsettled feeling in my soul as much as it lit me up under my skin. “It relates because the four of us are ancient, immortal, and harder to kill than Prospero wants to make you believe. And you’re human, fragile, and precious. I love that you want to help.” he pressed his forehead to mine. “Fuck, I love it, Meg. But none of us want you hurt. And being your mate? It is anhonorto protect you, and we will do it whenever and however needed. And honestly, probably more than you’ll like at some point.”

I laughed, though his words were making me breathless.

“You are the most important thing in the world to us. Please don’t feel guilty for letting us protect you when it’s all we want to do.” His voice dropped lower. “Even the idea of you in danger makes me feral. I would rip the world the shreds to get to you and not give a fuck about the consequences.”

There wasn’t a shred of doubt in his voice. Even Ariel had said I was his to protect. It was just so… alien. I’d been on my own for years, and I’d done everything for myself for longer than I could remember. This wasn’t just about protecting me, it was everything. They were feeding me and keeping me warm. I hadn’t lifted a finger so far except to dress myself.

It felt like I wasn’t contributing, and—

I closed my eyes, the truth hitting me so hard I swayed on my feet. When your only value to people was what you contributed, like to the ballet, then that was how you measured yourself. How I was measuring myself.

These men weren’t doing that. They barely knew me, and they were valuing me simply for who I was. Not what I was giving to them.

Laurent slid his hand into the side of my hair, cradling my face. “What’s going on in there? I lost you for a second.”

“It’s just that…” I swallowed. “I’ve been on my own for a really long time. I’m not used to other people doing things for me or…” Even saying it out loud was hard. “Wanting me without something in return.”

With his hand on me, he pulled me closer, wrapping me up so tightly I could barely breathe. “Meghan Irela, you could do absolutely nothing for the rest of your life, and I would love you. What’s left of my heart is yours.”

The whole world froze. It fucking stopped spinning on its axis with the two of us at the center. “You love me?”

“Yes,” he breathed. “I love you. I love every part of you. The parts I know and the parts I don’t know yet. You were made for me, and I will fight for us until my last moment.”

I couldn’t wrap my head around it—that kind of unwavering confidence. Looking up, I opened my mouth, and Laurent shook his head in the darkness. “Don’t. Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re not ready. Don’t forget,” he whispered. “I see you. I’ve seen you in the moments where you’ve tried to hide. And my loving you does not depend on you saying it back.” Lips brushed my cheek. “When you’re ready, it will be the sweetest sound in the world, mate.”

My heart fluttered, and I knew he was right. Even though Iwantedto be ready. “Okay.”

Scooping me up, he began to walk away from the ocean and back toward where we were safe. “I can walk.”

“Yes, you can.” There was a smile in his voice. “But I’m so much happier with you in my arms.”

It was so dark I couldn’t see anything, but I hoped he could see my smile.

CHAPTER THIRTY

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TRIN

The water tasted like blood.

Some of it was mine, but that didn’t matter.

Míannhad called every shark for miles, and there were still too many in the water. I felt the way they were hunting my mate, and it couldn’t stand. My magic was connected enough to the island’s power, through my heart, that I could sense the threads still within the creatures.

They wouldn’t stop until they tasted Meg’s blood. As soon as she went near the water, they would be there.

I hated that I had to kill them. It wasn’t their fault, and the ocean would suffer. But they would not harm my mate. End of story.

The others would help if they could. But the remaining creatures were too far and wide now for them to be useful. The water was my domain. I would take care of it.

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